Journal of Student Research 2013

227

Vehicle Ownership and Quality of Life

informedbyliterature,theory,andprogramparticipants’feedbackprovided to me by the program manager at the community-based organization. The survey instrument has both face validity and content validity as there is a logical correlation between the survey statements and the research question, and the statements address quality of life barriers commonly cited, but not investigated, in studies of the low-income population. Procedure The survey process began with a meeting with employees of the community-based organization to describe the purpose of this research and ask for permission to survey their clients. In addition, we discussed the need the program addressed in the community and what areas of life participants felt were improved by participating in the program. The program manager granted permission to survey their clients and provided a list of telephone numbers and first names of participants of the program. Surveys were administered via telephone, and calls lasted approximately 10 minutes. Of the participants that were reached, one chose not to participate in the survey due to time constraints. Data Analysis Plan The data was first cleaned and checked for missing data and then coded using acronyms for each variable. The first seven questions were demographic variables which included gender, age, employment status, annual household income, sources of income, household composition, and year of vehicle purchase. The following 13 closed-ended statements were given a three letter acronym: Prior to purchasing my JumpStart vehicle, I had difficulty finding or maintaining reliable transportation (BRT); Prior to purchasing my JumpStart vehicle, I had difficulty getting to work (BGW); Prior to purchasing my JumpStart vehicle, I had difficulty making it to medical and other important appointments (BMA); Prior to purchasing my JumpStart vehicle, I had difficulty finding convenient child care (BCC); Prior to purchasing my JumpStart vehicle, I had difficulty visiting with extended family and friends (BVF); I have little to no difficulty maintaining my JumpStart vehicle (CMT); I have little to no difficulty making the loan and insurance payments for my JumpStart vehicle (CLI); Since purchasing my JumpStart